One of the University's main challenges for the 2014-2015 academic year is to ensure that the Museum, which will be inaugurated at the beginning of 2015, becomes an important economic and cultural factor for the community of Navarre, development . Thus stated the President of the University of Navarra, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, during the academic official opening of the academic year . "We want the Museum to be an open door that invites the citizens of Pamplona and other parts of Navarra. The Museum can boost cultural tourism, so we are confident that it will be a factor of economic and cultural development for our community," he said.

On the other hand, he indicated that it is a priority to continue devising projects that "make the University an increasingly attractive place for students from all over the world," without losing sight of the fact that teaching must continue to be of the highest quality. In this sense, he pointed out that the Art Museum will contribute to achieving this goal, since students will be direct beneficiaries of many of the events held there.

research e internationalization

The President underlined that this year will be especially important for the centers of research, which "have launched lines of work and very encouraging projects". These include the CEIT at the campus in San Sebastian, the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), the research center in Nutrition, and the Institute of Tropical Health. He also pointed out that the University is confident that "the Biomedical Engineering Center, recently set up with the participation of the Clinic, School of Medicine and the School of Engineering, can also be consolidated". These centers allow research on relevant issues in different fields in order to be able to make notable contributions with international repercussions, as well as "contribute to spreading the good name of the University and of Navarra throughout the world," he said. 

On the other hand, he alluded to the new high school of research Sanitaria de Navarra, whose official approval by the Ministry of Health of the Spanish Government is expected to be received in the next few months. "This project will place the biomedical research of our region in a prominent position," he said. More than 750 researchers will work in this high school , of which almost 50% belong to the Hospital Complex and other public centers, while the other half concern the Clinic and other University centers. This is a project which, in the words of President, seeks to"join forces with colleagues from the Navarra Health System, for the benefit of Navarra".

Beatification of Don Álvaro del Portillo

A singular event to be celebrated at the beginning of this academic year is the beatification of Don Álvaro del Portillo, the second Chancellor of the University, who promoted major projects such as the CIMAThe University, the School of Economics, and the start of new Degrees and master's degrees. Don Álvaro will be beatified in Madrid on September 27. "We feel an enormous gratitude towards Don Alvaro. I trust that many of us will be there, in that workshop of great celebration for the University of Navarra," said Sánchez-Tabernero.

On the other hand, the President alluded to other challenges for this new course: to strengthen the programs of postgraduate program, to promote a greater orientation to entrepreneurship of students through a business incubator, and to consolidate the program of volunteer activities and the integration of people with disabilities.

"Biological diversity. Causes of diversity loss and proposals for conserving biodiversity."

The opening began with a Eucharistic concelebration presided by the Archbishop of Pamplona and Bishop of Tudela, Francisco Pérez. After the academic parade of doctors, the ceremony began with the intervention of University Secretary, Gonzalo Robles, who summarized the most outstanding data of research and teaching of the Academicreport of the academic year 2013-2014. Immediately after, the Full Professor of Zoology Luis Herrera Mesa gave the inaugural lecture, entitled "Biological diversity. Causes of the loss of diversity and proposals to conserve biodiversity".

Among the authorities who attended the event were the president of the Government of Navarra, Yolanda Barcina; the delegate of the Government, Carmen Alba; the mayor of Pamplona, Enrique Maya; the military commander general of Navarra, Álvaro Michael Sacristán; the president of the Superior Court of Justice of Navarra, Víctor Cubero Romero; the senior prosecutor of the TSJN, José Antonio Sánchez; the president of the Provincial Court, Esther Erice; the president of the Parliament of Navarra, Alberto Catalán; the councilors of Education, José Iribas; of Health, Marta Vera; the senator Amelia Salanueva; the parliamentarians Koldo Amezketa (Bildu), Juan Carlos Longás (Aralar-Nabai) and Xabi Lasa (Aralar-Nafarroa Bai); the president of EAJ-PNV, Manuel Ayerdi; and the deputy for Navarra of Geroa Bai, Uxue Barkos.

Also in attendance were the president of the Social committee of the UPNA, Román Felones; the Vice President of the UPNA, Javier Casalí; the director of the UNED of Pamplona, José Luis Martín Nogales; and the Deputy Director of the UNED of Tudela, José Miguel Laco Irigoyen.

• Special report Opening of the 2014-2015 academic year